No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2013!!  New Year, new beginnings!! Hope this year is off to a good start for everyone.  New Year means making resolutions. Almost every year, I  make some resolutions (mostly to stay healthy and of course, control my temper) only to be broken a few weeks later. I haven't really heard of anyone who has been able to keep up their resolution for the entire year. Anyway, life is full of surprises and its more interesting when you take things as they come. 

Our new year started out peacefully, nothing eventful, just another quiet day (partly, it doesn't stay quiet for too long with a 6 month old). I am hoping that I can blog more this year and keep it interesting.

Its nice to begin the year on a sweet note and hoping it stays that way for the rest of the year for everyone. Here's a simple no bake recipe for you to relish....

Adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats (or rolled oats)
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa
9 tbsp powdered raw sugar
Pinch of salt (optional)
1/4 cup vegan butter (I used earth balance)
6 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
1/2 tsp instant coffee powder

Method:

In a pan, add the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. On medium heat, allow the ingredients to melt well and boil for few mins. Now, remove from heat and let it cool for 1-2 mins. Add the vanilla extract, salt, peanut butter and coffee powder and whisk well. Add the quick cooking oats and mix all the ingredients until they blend well together.

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and spoon the dough using a cookie scoop (I flattened the cookies, not sure what I was thinking??). Cool the cookies for 30 mins to an hour until it hardens. Enjoy!!

For a variation, try using butter scotch chips or chocolate chips and add 1-2 tbsp sugar (adjust to taste).

Makes 20 cookies.